Ventriloquist&#39;s dummy



April 19, 1938. M. MccowN VENTRILOQUISTS DUMMYY Filed July v51, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 nml MUM

INVENTOR BY#Z l ATTORNEYS April 19, 1938. M, McCowN 2,114,851,

vENTRILoQUIsTs DUMMY Filed July 31,. 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 IN VENT OR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 19, 1938 UNieD STATES PATENT or-'FlcE vENrxmoQmsrs DUMM' Martha. McCown, Phoenicla, N. Y. application July 31, 1931. 'serial No. 156,614

s claims. (c1. 413-126) My invention relates to a new and improved toy ventriloquists dummy.

One of the objects of my invention is to providea toy which shall be durable in construction,

and which can be manufactured and assembled at low cost.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy having simple and conveniently assembled means for manipulating the head of the dummy, and also for manipulating the eyes and the lower jaw of the dummy, so that a child can readily manipulate the dummy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can be made of simple and sturdy parts, which can be readily assembled.

Other objects of my invention will be stated in the following description and drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of my invention is intended merely to explain the same generally, but Without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved dummy, a representation of a part of the gar- 25 ment of the dummy having been omitted, and a part of said figure being in section.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partially in elevation, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of Fig. 1, the garments of the dummy having been omitted, and the representation of the back of the head of the dummy having been omitted, in order to show the interior construction of the parts of the head more clearly.

Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively sectional views on the lines -t and 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, showing the assembly between the parts for manipulating the eyes and the lower jaw of the dummy, and the post upon which the head of the dummy is mounted.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the body 9 of the doll has a rectangular opening therein. Said body 3 can be made of wood or any other suitable material, and it can be made of several parts which can be suitably connected to each other, although it may be' of integral construction, as shown in Fig. 3.

The lower end of the body 9 is provided with perforated lugs l0. A member 8, made of suitable elastic material, is passed through the perforations of the lugs I8, and the ends of said elastic member 8 extend upwardly along the outer surfaces of the side walls of the body 9. These upwardly extending legs of the elastic member 8 are connected to the side walls of the body 9, by means of suitable fastening members Il. The member 8 can be made of suitablecovered rubber cord or the like.

The legs of the dummy comprise 'upper por- 5 tions 6 and lower portions 2. 'I'he upper leg portions are provided with eyes 1, which pass around the elastic cord 8. The lower leg portions are provided with feet I. The upper leg portions G and the lower leg portions 2 are connected to`10 Veach other by means of intermediate connecting members 3 which are located in suitable vertical slots of said members 2 and 6. Said connecting members 3 are connected to the leg portion 6 by means of pins 5, so that there is a vrigid assembly 15 between the members 3 and 6. The membersl 2 Ik.are turnably connected to the members 3, by

means of pivot pins A.

A hollow post i6 passes turnably through the top of the body 9. Means are provided for preventing any longitudinal movements of the post i6 relative to the body 9. Such means can consist of a pin i7, fastened to the post I6.

The head 2| of the doll is located wholly above the top of the body portion 9, and the neck of` 25 the head is provided with the usual socket, by means of which the head 2l is connected to the top of the post` I6.

As shown in Fig. 5, and'also in Fig. 2, the head of the dummy is provided with a movable jaw 3 portion 25, which is pivotally connected to the head of the doll by means of a pivot pin 22. This pivot pin 22 passes through jaw portion 20, and the ends of said pin are imbedded in the material of the head of the doll. Member 2B turns on 35 member 22; Y

In order to lmake the parts, the head of the doll may be made in two parts. The front part which is relatively stiff and hard and durable can have the pivot pin 22 connected thereto, and it 40 can also 'have the eye-assembly connected thereto.

The rear of the head of the doll may be completed, by using any suitable moldable construction.

As shown in Fig. 5, the movable jaw member 20 is provided with a member 23a, which extends inwardly from the rear of said jaw member o 20. Said member 23a can be provided with an eye 23. A first wire or first manipulating mem- 50 ber 28, has an upper bent portion 28a, which passes through said eye 23. Said .member 28 is located within hollow post I6, and member 28 is moved vertically relative to said post. As shown in Fig. 6, the post I6 has a. vertical slot 55 24 suitably connected thereto.

in its wall. The wire 28 has an exterior loop 21, or any other type of convenient ngerhold. Hence, by moving the loop 21 up and down, the jaw member 20 can be rocked, up and down.

The head of the doll is also provided with artircial eyes 23, which are mounted so that they can be moved up and down, and also from side to side.

Numerous forms of eye-assemblies are Well known for this purpose.

I have shown suitable and improved means, including a lateral bar 29, having sockets or openings in which the artificial eyes 23 are partially located. 'Ihe eyes 23 can turn freely in all directions, relative to the openings or sockets which are provided in the member 29. The member 29 is connected to the wall of the head 2|, by means of a member 30 which is partially imbedded in the material of the head 2|. The inner end of this member 30 is threaded, and a suitable nut |30 clamps the block 29 into position against the inner surface of the front wall of the doll.

The eyes 23 have inwardly directed members These inwardly extending and rigid members 24 are turnably connected by means of pivot pins 24a, to a crossbar 25. As shown in Fig. 2, said cross-bar 25 is provided with a depending lug 25a, having a vertical slot extending upwardly from the bottom wall thereof. The wire or member for manipulating the eyes, is designated by thereference numeral I8. At its upper end, and as shown in Fig. 2, said member I8 is provided with a bent portion I8a, whose upper end is located in the slot of the lug 25. The lug 25 and the top or vertical branch of the part |811, are connected by means of a suitable pivot pin.

'Ihe dummy can be provided with trousers I2, which can be connected to the side walls of the body 9, by means of pins I4. Said pins I4 preferably have heads, to which the top of the trousers may be connected detachably if desired.

' Said pins I4 can pass through the material of the trousers.

The dummy is also provided with arm members, consisting of fabric strips 3| and 3| a, which enclose masses of stuiiing 33. The outer ends of the arm members are connected to hand members 34.

'I'he dummy is also provided with a jacket I5, having arm portions 33.

As shown in Fig. 3, the hand H of the child can be applied, so that one nger enters the loop 21. This is preferably the third finger. The thumb and the first finger can hold the lateral fingerhold I9, which is connected to the bottom of the member I8.

When the jaw of the dummy is closed, the loop 21 is substantially at the bottom of the post I6, and, the nger-hold I9 is located below the bottom of the post I6.

The offset finger-hold I9 can be moved up and down, and it can also be turned, so as to move the eyes of the dummy up and down, or to cause them to move sideways, or to have any type of desired rolling movement.

Hence the controls are conveniently assembled.

While the hand of the operator is in the position illustrated in Fig. 3,-the post I6 can be turned so as to turn the `head of the dummy, and the member I9 or the member 21 can be moved up and down relative to the post I6 and the member I8 can also be turned on its own axis. It is not necessary for the hand of the operator to shift in order to provide all the manipulations.

It will be noted that the planes of the offset members 21 and I8 are substantially perpendicular to each other in what may be designated as the normal positions of the eyes and of the jaw. In said normal position the jaw member 20 is closed, and the eyes 23 have their pupils centrally located in the sockets which are provided in the iront wall of the head of the doll.

Likewise, by making the body of the doll of a frame-like member having an opening therein, the parts can be assembled and manipulated conveniently.

It will also be noted that the control members 21 and I9 are located wholly within the opening of the frame-like body 9, so that the manipulating parts are not injured when the toy is handled or packed.

In the preferred embodiment, I have shown the frame-like member 9 having an opening which extends through-and-through said member 9. However, it would be equivalent to provide said member 9 with a recess instead of providing the same with a through-and-through opening.

Hence, whenever I refer to a frame-like body member having an opening therein, I include within the scope of the invention, a frame-like bodv member having a recess.

In order to illustrate the parts more clearly, I have shown the width of the slot and the hollow post I6, as Substantially greater than the thickness of the loop member 21, part of which is located within the hollow post I6 and part of which is exterior to said post I6. However, the loop 21 may flt fairly snugly in said slot so that when the loop 21 is turned relative to the vertical axis of the post I 6, the post turns with said loop 21 in substantial unison.

In certain aspects of the invention, it is not limited to the frame-like body.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clear that numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from its spirit.

I claim:

1. A dummy having a frame-like body member having an opening therein, a. hollow post extending through the top wall of said frame-like body member and located above and below said top wall, said post being turnable on its axis relative to said top wall, a head located above said top wall and connected to the post so as to turn in unison therewith, said head having a jaw member movably connected thereto, said head also having eye members movably connected thereto, a first operating member connected to said jaw member, the first operating member passing through said hollow post and extending below said post, a second operating member connected to the' eye members, the second operating member having an offset portion which extends laterally through a vertical slot which is provided in a wall of said hollow post.

2. A dummy comprising a body, a hollow post turnably mounted on said body so that said hollow post can turn around its own axis, a head mounted on said body, said head having a movable jaw member and also having movable eye members, operating members located within said post and movable vertically relative thereto, said operating members being respectively connected to said jaw member and to said eye members so as to operate the same, the operating member which is connected to the eye members being assembled with the post so that said operating member and the post turn in unison when the post is turned around its own axis.

which extends through a vertical not in the wan lof the post, said nger-hold being partially lo- 3. .A dummy comprising a body, a hollow post turnably mounted on said body so that said hollow post canturn around its own axis, a. head mounted on said body, said head having a mov- 5 able jaw member and also having movable eye members, operating members located within said post and movable vertically relative thereto, said operating members being respectively connected to said jaw member and to said eye members so l as to operate the same, the operating member which is connected to the eye members being assembled with the post so that said operating member and the post turn in unison when the post is turned around its own axis, the last- 15 mentioned operating member `having a :lingerhold which extends laterally through a vertical slot in' said post.

4. A dummy having a body, a hollow post' mounted on. said body, said hollow post being 20 turnable around its own axis, a head mounted ou` i said hollow post, .said head having a jaw member which is pivotally mounted to the head so that said jaw member can move up and down, said 'head also having eye sockets. eye members 25 mounted in said sockets for turning lmovement 30 otally connected by means o! vertical pivots to a lateral connecting member so that said lateral connecting member can be moved up and down anditcanbealsomovedbackandforthinthe direction of its longitudinal axis. a rst operating member passing, through said hollow post and movable up and down relative to the post and connected to said Jaw member. said first opt. f erating member. having a lateral anger-hold cated within the post and being partially located external tothe post, so that the jaw member can be moved up and down by moving said iirst operating member up and down, and the post is turned in unison with said iirst operating member when said iirst operating member is turned around a vertical axis, a second operating member also extending through said hollow post. the second operating member having a lateral ngerhold which is located below the ringer hold of the rst operating member, the upper part of the second operating member being connected to said lateral bar, so that the eye members can be rocked up and .down by vertically manipulating the second operating member, and the eye members can -be rocked about a vertical axis by turning the second operating member-,around its own axis. l

5. A dummy having a head, said head having Y a jaw member and also eye members movably connected thereto, independent operating members being respectively connected to said jaw member and to said eye members so as to manipulate the same.

6. A dummy having a head.v said head having wall o! said body and having portions which are exposed in said opening.

MARTHA McCOWN. 

